IN
THE
WIND
P30
HAFIZH MAKES HIS MARK IN THAILAND
T
he question over the last
vacant MotoGP seat came
1.628 seconds closer to being
answered at Buriram—the interval
that potential Monster Tech3 Ya-
maha rider Hafizh Syahrin shaved
off his lap time over his first three
days on a MotoGP bike.
The last-minute vacancy on the
satellite Yamaha team came when
Jonas Folger unexpectedly with-
drew with continuing health issues
on the eve of Sepang tests. His
place was taken there by Colom-
bian Yonny Hernandez, but current
Moto2 rider Syahrin was signed up
for the Malaysian test, and acquit-
ted himself well at his first attempt.
He ended up 22nd, narrowly
behind ex-Moto2 star Tom Luthi
(VDS Honda), himself in only his
second outing, but ahead of the
experienced Ducati rider Karel
Abraham and another Moto2
recruit, Xavier Simeon.
The French-led team made no
commitment, but recruiting the
first Malaysian rider in the premier
class would make sound com-
mercial sense to Yamaha, with the
enormous two-wheeler market in
south-east Asia, while the quality
of the rider is another plus point.
Michael Scott
The man they call "The Fish" due to his incredible wet weather
prowess, Hafizh Syahrin, made a solid MotoGP debut in Thailand and
looks odds-on to secure the vacant Tech3 seat.
MICHELIN'S TIRE WOES
T
ire life was a major concern brought to light at the Thai-
land MotoGP tests, with an abrasive surface, blazing
heat and hard braking from very high speeds stressing the
rubber.
Michelin brought four variations each front and rear,
asymmetric at the back, all tires that had been used be-
fore, especially at the somewhat similar Austrian Red Bull
ring, plus two new harder-compound fronts.
All were tested, and the tire folk pronounced themselves
satisfied with the information gleaned, to be able to make
suitable tires for the October race.
According to Marc Marquez, however, conditions may
make their efforts redundant.
"I am told that it rains every day in October," he laughed.
Michael Scott
Michelin will have lots on their hands
leading up to the Thailand MotoGP race.
